Infomercial pitchman wins temporary reprieve from jail

Serena Maria Daniels, Tribune reporter

Infomercial pitchman Kevin Trudeau came to court Thursday dressed casually in bluejeans, a sign he expected to be jailed for ticking off a judge when supporters bombarded the judge with hundreds of e-mails.

But he won at least a temporary reprieve from jail Thursday when the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed to let him remain free while it quickly decides his appeal of his contempt citation and 30-day sentence.

U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman, miffed that he had even received an e-mail Thursday morning from a Trudeau supporter, instructed Trudeau to refrain from encouraging any further e-mails to the court.

Gettleman, overseeing a lawsuit against Trudeau, found him in contempt last week. He called the barrage a deliberate attempt to "harass, intimidate and influence" him.

After Gettleman imposed the 30-day sentence Wednesday, Trudeau's lawyers filed an emergency motion asking he remain free until his appeal was decided. On Thursday, less than half an hour before Trudeau was scheduled to surrender to federal marshals, the appeals court granted the motion. Oral arguments will be held Tuesday.

Trudeau's lawyer, Kimball Anderson, said his client, who had looked dapper in recent appearances with a suit and fedora, dressed casually Thursday because he expected to be taken into custody.

Trudeau, asked by reporters as he left the courthouse Thursday about his casual attire, replied with a smile, "That's a GQ question. I can't answer that."